The Parable of The Icy Sheets

As winter approaches, climbing into bed in Wisconsin can be . . . well, an "exhilarating" experience. Icy sheets bring "Let it go!" screams from under our frigid blankets. But eventually, if we can survive the initial chill, things eventually begin to warm up. A little.

Last night my wife and I were getting ready for bed. Why do women take longer than men to get ready for bed anyway? I think it's so we can warm up the covers a bit before they climb in. Just a theory.

So I was lying there, shivering in bed as my wife was brushing her teeth in the bathroom. Then, for some unknown reason, I decided it would be a good idea to slide over and warm up HER side of the bed.

"Aww, how sweet," you might say. Nope. It was dumb. I triple froze myself. First I froze on my side, then on her side, then again on my side again because the heat left my side the same time I did. I was triple frozen!

When my wife finally DID climb into bed though her side was all toasty and warm. You should have heard her. I think that was the first time I have ever actually HEARD joy.

"Oh, man! This is so warm!! It's wonnnnnnnderful!!"

This time of year men across the globe are trying to find the best gift for their wives this Christmas. They'll spend a lot of time and money trying to get the perfect thing. Ha! Not me. I have found the perfect gift and it doesn't cost a cent. My heat! Of course it IS a seasonal gift. My heat is abhorred come late July and August. Sigh. I guess it's not the perfect gift after all.

There has only ever been one perfect Christmas gift - Jesus.

But there IS a hint in this "frozen" story of mine about what DOES make gifts "perfect". Sacrifice. Thinking about the other person's needs and desires above our own. Our gifts don't have to come with hefty price tags but they DO have to come from the heart.

When God sent His Son to earth in the form of a baby He knew that one day He would sacrifice that same precious gift. God placed OUR needs above His own. And although His gift to us came from His heart it DID cost him a lot - His Son.

^"17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." - James 1:17

Every Good Gift - One: A Worship Collective

The Parable of The Gas Can

Have you heard about the homeless man who spent his last $20 on gas for a stranded motorist? A woman ran out of gas in Philadelphia. She had no money and no hope until a homeless man offered to buy her some gas. He told her to "get in the car and lock the doors" while he went to the gas station. But in doing so he actually demonstrated much more than kindness.

The story is a wonderful one - especially at Thanksgiving time. Not only was it a story about the character of this homeless man but it also spoke to the thankfulness of the woman who raised over $350,000 for the man through a GoFundMe page.

There is a deeper story here though. One with eternal ramifications. Hidden just under the surface -  the story of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

How much like that woman are all of us - stranded in "the world"? We suddenly come to the realization that we are in trouble . . . in danger. We don't know what we should do. Call for help maybe? Walk through a sinful world in hopes of finding some salvation?

That's when someone walked into her life and gave her hope. Have you or I done that for someone lately? My guess is no. This guy gave everything he had to give some stranger hope for her future. He was her savior when He sacrificed himself and his $20 to give her hope. And gas. Didn't Jesus do the same thing for us?

I'm sure this woman has received more expensive gifts but none of greater value.

^"41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. ⁴² But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

⁴³ Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. ⁴⁴ They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” - Mark 12:41-44
 
And look how grateful the woman was! She started a GoFundMe page and literally told the whole world what this man has done.

Are you a Christian? If you are you have been saved from the penalty of your sin. That should give us hope because the penalty for our sins is death. Yet, have WE gone and told the whole world? No. And why not? Good question. Jesus has COMMANDED us to do so.

This week I challenge us to tell this story of the homeless man who gave his last $20 to help someone else. And then share the Gospel with someone. It's actually easier than you might think. We should share our story of how God saved US. That's OUR $20 worth of gasoline.

⁴⁴ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, ⁴⁶ who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it." - Matthew 13:44-46

Homeless Man Gives Last $20 - Washington Post

Breaking Free

This time of year we can drive ourselves crazy with Black Friday shopping, trying to find those sought after Christmas gifts and getting ready for family meals and get-togethers. It IS a very busy time of year. So how do we handle it? Do what my wife did.

My wife used to get up at 4:00 AM to go Black Friday shopping in Milwaukee. She NEVER gets up that early. So why did she? She wanted to get the best deals, save the most money and to do that she had to get there before everyone else.

This year she did something different. She slept in. She didn't go Black Friday shopping at all, unless you count going to the deli for some potato salad as "Black Friday shopping." She no longer cares. "It's not worth it," she says and she chose not to participate.

We all do strange things for various reasons then, one day, we stop doing them and ask ourselves why we ever did them in the first place.

I did that with my Corvette several years ago. I had purchased the car just before becoming a Christian. Then, after I became a follower of Christ, I examined my ways and asked myself, "What am I doing with this car?"

A kind of maturity comes in our decision making the older we get. Or, the more experienced we get. LOL! My wife got burned out on the crowds and the traffic so she stopped shopping the day after Thanksgiving. Millions of people are still into that sort of thing but my wife is not one of them. She has moved on.

For me and for many other Christians, Jesus has re-prioritized our lives. What once was important to us no longer is.

The Apostle Paul sent a letter to the church in Philippi. They were struggling with their new-found identity in Christ. A demon possessed woman was causing problems for the church so Paul cast out the demon in the name of Jesus.

There's lots of stuff we'd like to change in our lives but we just can't seem to do it on our own. Sometimes we need help casting out OUR demons.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God...” - Philippians 4:6

I'm building a tiny home and, as much as I'd like to be able to do things on my own, I am physically unable to lift walls weighing hundreds of pounds up onto the tiny home trailer all by myself. Alone, it's impossible. However . . .

"With God, ALL things are possible" - Matthew 19:26

As I read through the New Testament I am amazed at all of the things Jesus did. The innumerable people He healed, the demons He cast out of people . . . all amazing stories to read about.

At the end of THIS story there is a video by Lacey Sturm. I have seen her perform and have listened to her testimony in person of how God changed her priorities. One day she was ready to die, the next she was loving life. What caused THAT transformation in her life? It was the power of God's love and grace!

So when life gets crazy and the traffic in your brain becomes excessive, pray. Ask God to calm the storm inside. When you finally surrender your heart to Him and submit yourself to HIS ways, He will change you and cast out YOUR demons that are sucking the life out of your daily life.  Make your requests known to God in prayer and your anxiety and panic and stress will all fade away. They did in MY life. They will in yours. Break free!


Lacey Sturm's Story
Breaking Free - Skillet (feat. Lacey Sturm)

The T-Hug

I had a list of things I was going to share about things we should be thankful for as we get ready for Thanksgiving Day tomorrow. You know - family, health, food & shelter. Stuff like that. And we SHOULD be thankful for those things. But today I'd like to suggest we all do something a little out of the ordinary tomorrow. Let's THUG as many people as we can!

Okay, your asking, "What's a THUG?" I got the idea from my grandson. He was staying over at grandpa and grandma's house while his mom and dad were at the Badger game. We had a great time. We drove cars and played with Legos. I took him up to my tiny home and we banged on things and had lots of fun.

When his mom and dad got back and it was time for them to go home he gave his grandma and me a big hug. It wasn't the usual hug though. This one was different. He RAN to us and crashed into us and gave each of us an amazing hug. I kissed him on the top of his head. Reminds me of a Bible story.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him." - Luke 15:20

It's the story of the prodigal son. Another translation says that the father "threw himself on his neck". And note that the father was running. Just like our grandson was.

So my thought for this Thanksgiving is to be thankful for the usual things but to DO something with our thanks for family and friends. Give them all a Thanksgiving hug - a T-Hug if you will.

I'm not telling you to crash into grandma in her wheel chair but give someone a loving hug. Give them a kiss on the cheek or head. SHOW someone you love them. Not as the world "loves" but as Christ first loved us and gave Himself up for us as a willing sacrifice for our sins.

Jesus opened his arms wide and gave us all a hug . . . on the cross. He loves us THAT much. He loves us deeply and passionately. Should we be doing the same for those He commanded us to love? Give someone a hug today. Not just a one-arm, I'm afraid I'll break you hug. Run to them!

"Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” - Mark 10:14-15

Jesus Loves The Little Children

What's Important?

Wow! It's Monday morning already? Where did the weekend go? There never seems to be enough time in a given day to do all of the things we'd like to do. What if there was a way to get all of our important things done and out of the way so we could have a nice relaxing weekend? Well, . . .

Perhaps we should start by defining what "important things" are. What things are important in YOUR life? Family? Friends? Your job?

I think our "important things" can easily be defined by the decisions we make every day. Especially when our schedules get full. There are times in our life when we have to choose between A and B. That choice defines what is more important.

Let's talk about relationships for a moment. You call someone asking them if they'd like to hang out. When they don't return your call, after a while it becomes obvious they have something more important to do. At least it can seem that way to us. That person in our lives has made a decision. Something other than us is more important to them.

I volunteer at a food pantry one day each month. I love talking with all of the people I meet there. Sometimes I pray for them or encourage them in some way. I do that kind of stuff because that's who God designed me too be. But sometimes I get tired and don't feel like going.

This past Saturday morning I was pretty tired. I needed to get some work done on the tiny house I am building too. But I made a decision - I went to Ruby's Pantry anyway. Tired and cold, and about to learn a lesson in importance.

As the morning wore on, one of the people I had prayed with in the past came up to me and gave me a card. It was a Christmas card. A little early but appreciated none the less. Later, when I opened the card at home, I was struck by the message inside.

"Thank you for being my best friend."

I'm somebody's best friend, and I don't even know their name? That's pretty sad on my part. Yet, I am somebody's best friend. And they took the time to get me a card. They made a decision and I hope they are blessed for it.

It occurred to me that I must like the taste of humble pie because it seems I have had my fair share lately. And that's good. This latest serving tough made me stop and think about how I sometimes get weary and want to sleep in our skip a day serving others.

That will NEVER happen again.

I am reminded of a command from Jesus.

^"45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? ⁴⁶ It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. ⁴⁷ Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. " - Matthew 24:45-47

Will God approve of the decisions we make each day? When things on our busy schedules have to be sacrificed, who will pay the price? When Jesus returns will He find us serving those in need? Or will we be scrolling through Facebook, playing a video game or watching a movie?

Jesus told His disciples that the last shall be first and the first shall be last. I want to be last. I want to be a servant. I'm going to make my daily decisions with that in mind, And do you know what will happen next if we do that? The things we once thought were important in our lives will fade away in favor of the things that are more important . . . in God's eyes.

Give Me Your Eyes - Brandon Heath

Running The Race

Not knowing, sucks. That uneasy feeling we get in between the tests and the results. In between the marriage proposal and the answer. In between the old job and the new. Not knowing, our insecurity boils over into anxiety and fear of the unknown. There's a reason for that.

We all face hurdles in life. Some of them are higher than others, but we face then none the less. I think God is more interested in how we navigate life's obstacles than removing them from our path. We need to remember that this life we are living right now is a training session for what is to come.

Let's say we are facing a job transition like mine for example. I am retiring in four months. The future is uncertain, our family income with be drastically reduced. How should I approach my unknown future?

I could worry about paying the bills, I could concern myself about how I am going to put food on the table, but I would be limiting myself . . . AND my God.

Maybe you're battling a disease. As a Christian do you think it matters more to God whether or not you win the battle or trust in Him that, no matter what, your life is in HIS hands?

God wants us to run all of our races as if we want to win, not necessarily TO win. Does that make sense?

Maybe you've seen this video. It's a Special Olympics commercial video of a track event - a race. All the contestants want to win. When one of the runners stumbles, watch what happens. Then tell me who won the race.

Special Olympics Race

Sure we will face uncertain times. Sure we'll be afraid and concerned about the future. But God IS on His throne. God is STILL in charge.

^"7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." - 2 Timothy 1:7

Fear is believing that God can't handle things. We should not be fearful of the future.

Here's another race to watch. The runner ran to win and eventually he finished the race. Not exactly like he had hope but the outcome inspired millions. All he needed was a little help from his father, who loves him.

And that's all WE need too.

Things Don't Always Work Out

The Commands of Jesus: Be Clean!

When I read the story in Matthew about the encounter Jesus had with a leper I didn't really think much about it. Jesus healed many people in His three-year ministry. It was only when I dug a little deeper that I found some hidden treasure. Can you find it?

"When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. ² And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
 
³ Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

⁴ And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” - Matthew 8:3

The first thing we notice is that "a leper came and worshiped Him." The leper, someone made unclean by a defiling skin disease, worshiped Jesus. And the leper "believed" Jesus could do it saying, "You CAN make me clean." Jesus cleansed lepers a lot. Leprosy was synonymous with sin.

The next thing we see is that Jesus WAS willing. He is always willing to cleanse us of OUR sins if we believe.

The third thing we can see is in verse four, and this is the interesting part. Jesus doesn't want the cured leper to tell anyone about his cleansing. What did Jesus want him to do instead?

"show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded."

Hmm. What is "the gift that Moses commanded?" Check out Leviticus 14. Are you ready for this? Hold on . . . it's about you and me and Jesus.

"14 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “This shall be the law of the leper for the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought to the priest.

Who is OUR high priest? It's Jesus!

"3 And the priest shall go out of the camp, and the priest shall examine him; and indeed, if the leprosy is healed in the leper, 4 then the priest shall command to take for him who is to be cleansed . . . "

The leper, the sinner, is to be cleansed. That's you and me! And what does the law of Moses say to do?


"(take) two living and clean birds, cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop."

 Two birds. One is Jesus, the other represents you and me. Any guess what type of wood Jesus was crucified on? Was it cedar? And hyssop . . . it used for during Passover . . . when death passed over those who had lamb's blood smeared on their door posts. And what color is blood - Jesus blood? Red. Scarlet.


"5 And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water.

God commanded that Jesus be killed in an earthen vessel (His earthly body) for our sins.


"6 As for the living bird, he shall take it, the cedar wood and the scarlet and the hyssop, and dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water. . . .

 You and I are literally required to be washed in the blood of Jesus! And He is "living water."


"7 And he shall sprinkle it seven times on him who is to be cleansed from the leprosy, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose in the open field." - Leviticus 14:1-7

 Seven is the number of completion in the Bible. Remember when Jesus said, "It is finished" on the cross? And then the one who has sinned (that's you and me again), the living bird, is to be set free. Free from the punishment of sin. Amazing!

In Mark's account of this same story guess what the cleansed leper did after Jesus commanded him not to tell anyone? He disobeyed.

^"45 However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction." - Mark 1:45

Isn't that just like us? Disobeying God after we have had our sins forgiven? Jesus died for MY sins. I need to show more appreciation for that in the way I live my life.

The Bible is an amazing book. If one takes the time to not only read it but to study it there are amazing treasures to be found. And, as always, God is glorified in ALL of them.

Are You Washed In The Blood / I'll Fly Away - Alan Jackson

A Good and Perfect Gift

^"17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." - James 1:17

Have you ever received a "good and perfect gift"? I think we all have at some point in our lives. Even those things we don't think of as "gifts from above" really are. It just depends on how you think about them.

Let's start with the basics. Are you alive? Were you born? Everyone's answer to those two questions should be "yes", unless you are the walking dead or an inanimate object. Well, it IS Monday morning so that's possible I guess.

Christians believe that all things were created by God and that life was given to each of us by our Creator. All good and perfect gifts can be traced back to our Heavenly Father - our Creator. 

I received a gift from God last week. It didn't come in a box with wrapping paper. Nor was it delivered by an angel. It came in an envelope from a far away and distant land - Antigo, WI. It was from a friend I met at a church community outreach program several years ago. See, I told you it was a gift from God! :)

Anyway, back then, this family had just moved to the area and the mom was looking for a youth group for her kids. It was definitely a God thing that she asked me for a recommendation - a youth leader for our church's youth group at the time. This family has been a treasured part of my life ever since.

Back to the envelope I received. It was from the entire family but the handwriting was unmistakably that of the mom. It was a Thanksgiving card. Inside the card was a letter and this is what it said.

"Just a little something to say, "Thank you" for you and all you do." There was also a cash donation towards the tiny home I am building for area homeless. But this perfect gift I was given doesn't end there. That's not how God works. He multiplies His gifts of love.

God often blesses us in unseen ways, but sometimes He blesses us in a way that let's us KNOW it was He who did the blessing. And this gift from Antigo is just an example of that.

I was leaving for a meeting Saturday morning but I needed some lumber for the tiny house. I usually just use my credit card and I was going to do just that. But my wife encouraged me to take the gifted money along and use that. I reluctantly agreed. I kind of wanted to use that money for something special.

So I get to the lumber yard, my only chance to get lumber for the weekends building project and the guy behind the counter says, "Before you order, we can't accept any credit cards this morning. Something's wrong with the machine."

That's when I knew this is was all God's doing. The amount of cash I had in my pocket, all from my friends in Antigo, covered the entire bill. My weekend building plans would have been totally trashed if not for that gift from above.

How has God blessed you in YOUR life? Has He introduced you to some friends who have in turn blessed you? Have you and your family been drawn closer to God through a particular event or happening? It's all God! He is the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

Would you mind if I prayed right now? And won't you please join with me in that prayer?

Father, I thank you for the gifts you give us. They don't come with wrapping paper. They are wrapped in love. I thank you for my adopted family in Antigo. Jeanne, I love you my friend. The same goes for you too Steve, Joshua, Kahla, Cheyenne and Jessica. God, you place people in our lives for our good and Your ultimate glory. You never cease to amaze me with your gifts. They are always priceless in their nature and lasting in their duration. You are an amazing God and we love you and honor you, now and forever. Amen.

The chorus of the following song says it all. Let's sing it to God in appreciation for all He has done.

And all I want is to hold you forever
All I need is you more everyday
You saved my heart from being broken apart
You gave your love away
And I'm thankful everyday
For the gift

The Gift - Jim Brickman
Blessings - Laura Story

Drink Deep

There is an old saying that goes, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink." That is especially true in the world we live in today. And it can be true in our own lives as well. Here's an example of what I mean.

There's nothing I like better in the morning than a nice Manderfield's Bavarian Cream filled doughnut. I seldom buy them for myself but when someone brings in doughnuts at work for their birthday I am often first in line. The problem is I am diabetic. Sugar is not good for me. Yet I still consume sugar.

My wife tries to get me to eat smart. No doughnuts! No cookies! And I comply with her wishes . . . as long as she is present. But as soon as she turns her back, I am in the cookie jar! My wife knows what is right for me but she has trouble making my follow her wishes. That's because my desire to eat sweets is often stronger than my desire to please my wife.

As a Christian, walking through a fallen world each day, I see many people who are thirsty. Thirsty for the living water of Jesus. The problem is, they don't KNOW they are thirsty. Does that make sense? They are living a life that is not pleasing to God, yet they think their lives are perfectly fine.

We Christians are supposed to be the ones who lead these "horses" to water - Jesus. So, how do we do that? I think the answer is love, and compassion.

I have some young friends who are involved in a same-sex relationship. They are drinking the water from a polluted stream - the world. I have talked with them about sin and their need for repentance. I have done so in love. When we see each other these days we always give the other a hug. There IS love present in our relationship. But they prefer living that lifestyle. I am the same with my doughnuts. Have I done my job as a believer in Christ in the lives of my friends?

I have loved them, I have had compassion for them and told them about sin and doing what is right in God's eyes. I pray for them, that they will one day taste the crisp, clean water the Jesus has to offer. I have led them to the source of the water, but I can't make them drink Him in. I have done my job. The rest is up to them. And Him.

It's frustrating because I love these people. I want what is best for them. God does too. But we all have free will to chose the path we want to take. That sounds like something God might be saying about US when WE screw up and make the wrong choices.

The difference comes, I think, that when we sin the only thing that quenches our thirst for righteousness is another drink from The Well. HIS well.

The next time someone brings in doughnuts at work to celebrate their birthday, what will I do? I'll probably have one, despite the fact that doughnuts are not good for me. And that's the problem. I am more interested in that sweet taste of sin than I am about doing what is right.

"It's just one doughnut."

It's more than one doughnut though. It's a lifestyle that needs to be changed if I want to have a longer life. It's the same with Jesus. If we want to have a longer life - eternal life - we need to make a lifestyle change. We need to drink from a different stream.

So, when are we going to do that?

In a few months I am going to retire. My "lifestyle" will be changed. The temptation from those sinful doughnuts will still be there but the exposure to them will be far less. Isn't that what needs to happen when we sin?

We need to change our lifestyle and how do we do that? Seek the help of someone who changes lives everyday. Jesus is just what we need. Drink Him in and drink deep!vHe will change your life.

^"37 On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! ³⁸ Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’ - John 7:37-38

The Well - Casting Crowns
Washed By The Water - Needtobreathe
Jesus, The Water of Life - Ben Hur
The Atheist Delusion Movie - Living Waters

Decisions Decisions

Being as old as I am, I have had more time to screw up than most. I have accumulated a rather large pile of "things I'd do differently" if I had the chance. Maybe you have some of those too - things we'd rather have done a different way . . . made a smarter or better choice.

If you could go back in time and change those bad choices, would you? OR do you think those poor choices helped make you who you are today? That's a tough call.

I think God always wants us to do what is right in HIS eyes, not our own.

Most of my decision making is based on the concept of marriage as defined in The Bible. The relationship between husband and wife and the relationship between Jesus (the bridegroom) and his followers (the bride).

^"22 Wives, (that's us in our relationship with Jesus) submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. ²⁴ Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

²⁵ Husbands, (that's me in my relationship with my wife) love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, ²⁶ that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷ that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. ²⁸ So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. " - Ephesians 5:22-28

Yesterday was a beautiful day. I had all of my projects done at work so I took he day off to work on the tiny home I am building. But that's not the first thing I did.

For a few weeks my wife had been mentioning how the lawn needed mowing. I had been putting that off so I could work on my tiny home. Well, yesterday, while she was at work, I mowed the lawn. Why? I sacrificed my desires (working on my tiny home) for those of my wife.

During the previous week she had made me some of my favorite meals - meatloaf & fried potatoes, wienie roll-ups and baked beans, baked chicken and au gratin potatoes. She had done that for ME.

Yesterday it was my turn. You should have seen the look on her face when she saw the lawn.

What choices will we face today? Will we make them as consumers or as servants? In my opinion we can never make the wrong decision if we think like a servant. What can I do to make someone's life better? How can I honor God in what I am about to do?

If we ask ourselves those questions BEFORE we act life becomeS a beautiful experience, no matter what the situation.

How can we help someone? Encouragement? Love? Sacrifice? And how can we honor God? By doing all those things I just mentioned in His name. EVERYTHING we do should honor God. If it doesn't, we've made a wrong decision. Honor God with your life, starting today.

Lead Me - Sanctus Real

Retirement? Nah!

Ever since I announced my retirement at work (March 2018) people have been asking me, "So, what are you going to do?" Wait. I have to DO something? I thought the whole idea of retirement was NOT doing things. I have a lot to learn.

So what would YOU do if you suddenly didn't have to work anymore? I guess I never really thought about it, until this week. One thing's for sure. I'm not going to get up as early as I do now. Four thirty is insane! I'll try six o'clock for a while and see how that works.

I'm looking forward to doing more stuff that I don't have the time to do now. Like clean my office and workroom downstairs. My wife will be doing cartwheels! I should probably transition slowly into the cleaning thing. Don't want to give my wife a heart attack.

I'm definitely going to read more. I'm reading through the Bible for the fifth time right now and am still learning new things each time I read. Getting to know God more is a very high priority.

But probably the thing I will enjoy doing the most is spending more time pouring into my relationships. Stopping back in at work and saying, "Surprise!" sounds like fun to me. And having breakfast with my wife! But the thing I am looking forward to the most is spending quality time in ALL of my relationships - past, present and future.

I'd like to change the "Well, I have to go nows" into "Where are you goings?" Know what I mean?

Retiring doesn't mean you're never going to do any work again. It means CHANGING the type of work you are doing. I look forward to that because for the past 12 years I have felt like I should have been doing something else. Maybe this is it!!

Most people think of retirement as not having to anything. I look at it as an opportunity to do MORE things.

I read something in the Book of Matthew last night that made me think about my retirement in a new light.

^"27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works." - Matthew 16:27

When Jesus returns, what will He find us doing? Will we be watching television in our bathrobe and slippers? Will we be sleeping in until noon after a late night out on the town? No. I don't think so. Not for me.

When Jesus returns I hope he finds me deep into a conversation with some kid who is struggling. Or catching up with a friend I haven't seen in a while. Or serving down at the local food pantry.

Yes, I will no longer have to go into work each day like I have for the past 40+ years, but I will keep myself busy working for The Lord. I can't think of anything more enjoyable or rewarding than to be found in His service. :)

Working Man's Blues - Merle Haggard

God's Healing Hand

My last story was about the amazing relationships that can spring forth out of the adversity we often encounter in our lives. Today I will be exploring just WHY God allows bad things to happen. For example, what reason could God possibly have for allowing someone to get cancer, when Almighty God has the power cure it all?

First, let's go back into the Old Testament and see how God's people, the Israelites, are doing at obeying their God. They are not doing well. They are disobedient and stiff-necked. They worship other gods and The One True God is rather upset with them. So upset that He is going to hand them over to their enemies.

^"20 Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Behold, My anger and My fury will be poured out on this place—on man and on beast, on the trees of the field and on the fruit of the ground. And it will burn and not be quenched.”

^"21 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices and eat meat. ²² For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices. 

²³ But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.’ ²⁴ Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but followed the counsels and the dictates of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward. ²⁵ Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have even sent to you all My servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them. ²⁶ Yet they did not obey Me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck. They did worse than their fathers." - Jeremiah 7:20-26

God's people eventually repented. Those of them who were left anyway. But then they drifted away again and God's wrath came down on then . . . again. This pattern repeats itself again and again throughout the entire Bible! Sin, punishment, repentance, forgiveness. We never learn. God used punishment back then to get the attention of His people and to draw them back to Himself.

God is the same yesterday, Today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Why would God change His pattern now? The only thing different that God has done since then has been for His punishing His one and only Son to pay for our sins with His death. Yet we STILL sin. We just can't seem to stop sinning.

God is a jealous God (Exodus 34:14). He wants our obedience. So much so that He was willing to sacrifice His Son to get it. Would He use an illness or some other hardship to draw us to Himself? He has done it throughout the Bible. Why would He, The Unchangeable One, suddenly change? WE are the ones who must change.

As we walk through this life it is our obedience and love that God wants. He will use whatever means necessary to achieve that. But we are a stubborn people, fighting Him every step of the way.

It would be easy to close this story with something warm and fuzzy. There are instances scattered throughout His word about how loving and forgiving God can be. And He is. But, if we are truly in the last days like most scholars think we are, it's only going to get worse. We will continue to frift further and further away. Until . . .

Only the true church will be saved.

When Jesus returns and raptures His church, things on earth will REALLY get bad. Only after Jesus returns and sets up His kingdom on the new earth will things be different. THAT is when things will get warm and fuzzy. Until then though we are going to be in for a mighty rough ride, unless we repent and turn to God.

When Moses encountered God he repented from his wicked ways on gave himself over to God in obedience. It cost him much - the kingdom of Egypt. But he gained everything and led God's people out of slavery in Egypt to The Promised Land.

It is no different for us today. If we repent and are obedient to God, He will deliver US to The Promised Land. Why? He has promised!

^"14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." - 2 Chronicles 7:14

Moses Stands Firm For God in Front of Pharaoh - The Ten Commandments
Repenting of Sin and Returning to God - David Platt

A Blessing and A Curse

We've all asked the question. How can God allow pain in the lives of those He loves? It's a big question. An understandable question. So, what's the answer? What I am about to tell you is extremely personal and intimate but it is also the truth. It is the answer we all seek.

Each of us knows someone who has gone through a tragedy in their lives. We too have gone through such things. How do we handle those situations? What do we do? What do we say?

Here's how it happens.

We talk to someone at work or school. We ask them how their day was. And, if they are willing, they tell us. After they tell us their story, if it is a particularly painful one, we have compassion on them and walk with them for a short while as they go through the pain of a loss or a particular struggle. It becomes both a blessing and a curse to do so.

We can receive criticism from family members or our bosses for "spending too much time" with someone. And it does take time. There is sacrifice involved. I call it "a curse" but it really isn't because we are willing to make that sacrifice. It is a blessing to serve God in such a way.

Having compassion for someone and coming along side them will eventually evolve from a painful situation to a trusting loving one. We hear words like, "Thank you SO much!" "I don't know what I would have done without you." "We love you." How can that NOT be a blessing to hear those things.

Most of the friendships we have - tight, close, personal - have come out of experiences like this. A messy divorce, the death of a close friend and mentor, verbal and mental abuse, a miscarriage, drug addiction, alcoholism, a battle with cancer, physical pain, depression. Love is worth wading through all those things!

We are commanded to "love one another". When we place our hearts in God's hands through our willingness to follow Christ, it comes with the territory. We can't help ourselves. It is a gift of the Holy Spirit.

^"34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. ³⁵ Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” - John 13:34-35

Having such close friends, refined by such fire, may seem like a curse at first but they always become a blessing because they are based in faith and true love for our fellow man/woman. Yes, there is pain in the beginning. But God makes beauty from pain. It's what He does.

And that's the answer to the opening question, I think. God allows pain and suffering so we can emerge on the other side of it stronger and more understanding of others who have gone through similar things. Struggles and pain grow us so that we in turn can help others going through the same thing. We end up doing the same thing that Jesus did for us. And that can only lead to a deeply personal, loving relationship. And THAT is what God wants for us and from us. Beauty from pain.

Beauty From Pain - Superchick